By Pin Sisovann
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Retired King Norodom Sihanouk on Monday tempered comments posted on his Web site over the weekend that the Sisowath branch of the royal family is planning to usurp the throne and replace King Norodom Sihamoni.
In his initial message over the weekend, the retired King wrote that persons of the "Sisowath Clan" were concocting a "plan" to dethrone the "very popular and very 'clean' King Norodom Sihamoni."
He added that his son, King Norodom Sihamoni, had told him many times that if a decision was made to replace him or to "republicanize" Cambodia, he would in no way oppose it but only ask for two weeks notice.
The message about the Sisowath designs on the throne made the headlines in some newspapers Monday. But one report, which quoted a senior government official speculating on the veracity of the information and the possible source drew a quick response from the retired King.
Writing in the margin of the newspaper article, Norodom Sihanouk said that the source of the information "was a 'serious' person [of Khmer race]."
He added, however, that the " [plot] story was amusing and in no way grave-of the Sisowaths."
The newspaper stories have created a stir in the "Sisowath Clan."
"I was shocked," Prince Sisowath Thomico said, adding that he had contacted numerous princes and princesses of the Sisowath branch and that none had heard of a plot
"Sisowath brothers and sisters always support King Norodom Sihamoni and the King Father...no one has such a plan," Prince Sisowath Sirirath said.
Since the royal family's Norodom and Sisowath branches descend from a common ancestor—King Ang Duong who died in 1860—he said, "we cannot be divided."
"I think there could be someone trying to split the Norodom and Sisowath blood," by reporting this tale to Norodom Sihanouk, Prince Thomico said.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that according to the Constitution, only the Throne Council can appoint the king.
The individual who reported this possible plot to Norodom Sihanouk was trying to create problems, he said. "If I were the King, I would ask the King Father who was the informer," he added.
In his initial message over the weekend, the retired King wrote that persons of the "Sisowath Clan" were concocting a "plan" to dethrone the "very popular and very 'clean' King Norodom Sihamoni."
He added that his son, King Norodom Sihamoni, had told him many times that if a decision was made to replace him or to "republicanize" Cambodia, he would in no way oppose it but only ask for two weeks notice.
The message about the Sisowath designs on the throne made the headlines in some newspapers Monday. But one report, which quoted a senior government official speculating on the veracity of the information and the possible source drew a quick response from the retired King.
Writing in the margin of the newspaper article, Norodom Sihanouk said that the source of the information "was a 'serious' person [of Khmer race]."
He added, however, that the " [plot] story was amusing and in no way grave-of the Sisowaths."
The newspaper stories have created a stir in the "Sisowath Clan."
"I was shocked," Prince Sisowath Thomico said, adding that he had contacted numerous princes and princesses of the Sisowath branch and that none had heard of a plot
"Sisowath brothers and sisters always support King Norodom Sihamoni and the King Father...no one has such a plan," Prince Sisowath Sirirath said.
Since the royal family's Norodom and Sisowath branches descend from a common ancestor—King Ang Duong who died in 1860—he said, "we cannot be divided."
"I think there could be someone trying to split the Norodom and Sisowath blood," by reporting this tale to Norodom Sihanouk, Prince Thomico said.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said that according to the Constitution, only the Throne Council can appoint the king.
The individual who reported this possible plot to Norodom Sihanouk was trying to create problems, he said. "If I were the King, I would ask the King Father who was the informer," he added.
17 comments:
Remember this action: PM Hun Sen warned about the possibility of coup whereas EX king raised a concern about "the possibility of throne replacement".
Replace norodom as soon as possible!
i see an emerging to a republican state. too soon too fast is not good for Cambodia, although i don't favor the monarchy. china is slowly moving in and who can stop?
those dynasties from china who rule in srok youn today are chinese descended; the game is over soon.
thaksin will be allowed to return to thailand but that won't stop thaksin from celebrate his chinese new year. a new leader of srok khmer if i'm not mistaken it'd be HE sok an, a khmer of chinese descended. not what hun sen wants to stay in power it is what china wants who should be in power.
That is rediculous, China does not
interfered with other nation
affair.
If you have been reading the news,
you know that China even donated
about 10 millions USD for our
April comming election.
Have you ever heard of any
Autocracy government that supported
and funded a democracy process
before, huh?
first come first serve.
now kick the Youn Vietcong and Hun Xen!
Chinese have to wait for it turn!
I'm a great admire of your majesty, but not without limit. Your royal messages have lately creating nothing but divisiveness among your subjects. Can you offer any insight how we can overcome our current difficulties and restore your once glorious kingdom?
Hey Post11:24, stop kicking
Chinese people around. In case
you don't know, many historians
believed that there were some
chinese's settlers in Cambodia
way before the arrival of the
Khmers. You keep abusing chinese
people, and China will take revenge
for the killing of their
anscestors, and that will be
worse than Pol Pot.
Plus, being a member of the UN
Security Counsil, China can
certainly make it legal to claim
Cambodia a part of its territory,
in case you don't know.
Hey post 118am, china does not have to use military force to claim cambodia, economic force works as well with no blood spilled.
With billions to spend on investment contracts, we'll be calling china as the boss for years to come.
So you don't have to get all hyped up and steamed about that matter...just relax ok?
King Sihamoni is charming and innocent, but with you "old King"got him up and down in Bejin/ China, it paints our young and innocent King communist. No one needs communist King or do we?
Why doesn't he travel to America sometimes? Why always Bejin China?
He doesn't like America because in 1950's US didn't support him to gain Cambodian independent from France.
Remember China needs rubber, oil, and cheap labors. Sisowath or Norodom means nothing to them when Pol Pot gained power in 1975.
Very good Post2:11, you got me on
that one, hehehe.
Good question post3:07.
It all having to do with
consideration toward our neighbors
or eternal partner.
The US and China don't see eye to
eye on a lot of things and it is
not good to be seen with the US.
he was walking a fine line between
the two super powers but he
trip in the early 60's, LOL.
Basically, the US offended the
Queen (his mother). Since then,
his relation with the US has been
sour.
And also you should know that
because China is communist, that
does not make us communist.
If you sister is a musician, does
that make you a musician?
Post3:31, it is not true that the
ExKing hated the US. In in one
of a dispute on vietnam issue,
the US offended the Queen (his
mother) that is what caused the
relationship to sour.
As for China prefered Pol Pot
over the two Royalists, that is
true because communist favor
communist and you can't change
that in the past or now. It is
just natural. Consequently the
ExKing was dissapointed, which
is why he move to North Korea.
And from being allied with the
communist, he can't go to the
US, France, Swiss, ...
Just not safe from the CIA.
To 11:23 and 4:07
China's aids to Combodia during the April's election is very clear that China wants Cambodia to remain at her side, that is Communist and dictatorship. The aids of China is only help the CPP and its officials, and certainly not the poors.
Regarding the ex-king and his wife, American didn't help Cambodia to be independent from France, and the ex-king's wife Monic was said to be offended by US, I think it is time to rethink between personal issue and the benefit for our country.
Look at Vietnam and America, they were the enemy, what is happening now?
Nope, China just assign 10 millions
to the financal misnistry for
the April 2007 election. It does
not interfered with any khmer
decision in any way or form.
The closest thing that China has
done is lobbying our government
to help pave way for their
Corporation, but this is perfectly
legal.
And I agree about let go the past,
and the ExKing did let go of the
past. Just one correction, however,
I did not said that is was Monique
who was offended by the US, but
the real ExKing's MOTHER. They also
considered her as queen in
Cambodia.
And yes, I think the US and Vietnam
is finally considering kissing and
making up. I just hope there will
be a happy ending to it also.
Sihanouk's middle name is "trouble". Sihanouk loves to create trouble.
It doesn't matter because he's
no longer interested in politic.
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